Comparing Adaptations of Birds

Transcription

1 Name Class Date Comparing Adaptations of Birds Introduction When Charles Darwin explored the Galápagos Islands, he noted the great variety of beak shapes on the finches there. It was later determined that Darwin s finches made up 13 separate species. The similarities among the species suggested a common ancestor: A single species of finch that came from the mainland of South America. How did these birds evolve into genetically unique groups? With few native competitors and a wide variety of food sources, the newcomers were able to establish niches based on variations in beak shape and size. Finches with beaks that could exploit a particular food source insects in the bark of trees, for example established their own niche in the new habitat. Natural selection thus favored beak specialization because it enabled many birds to coexist within the same ecosystem. Many birds also show specialization of other body parts, including legs, feet, wings, and eyes. In this investigation, you will examine some bird characteristics. What are the survival benefits of each bird s adaptations? Problem What adaptations have evolved among modern birds that enable them to survive in diverse habitats? Pre-Lab Discussion Read the entire investigation. Then, work with a partner to answer the following questions. 1. What can you learn from observing and comparing specific physical traits of different birds? 2. What are some terms you can use to describe the size and shape of a bird s beak? 3. How does a bird s beak help you identify its habitat? 4. A certain bird ordinarily lives in or near water and spends much of its time swimming. Based on Data Table 1, what type of feet would you expect this bird to have? Biology Laboratory Manual A/Chapter

2 5. Birds that spend much time perching have three front toes and one back toe. Based on Data Table 1, how is this different from the feet of birds that are better adapted for climbing than for perching? Materials (per group) specimens or illustrations of birds detailing their physical adaptations, field guides to birds Procedure 1. Look carefully at the diagrams of birds in Figure 1. Notice the details of each bird s feet and beak. Using the diagrams, complete Data Table 1 by filling in one or more examples of birds that exhibit each of the beak and foot adaptations described. 2. Inferring In Data Table 2 on page 134 consider the adaptations of the birds listed and then describe their likely habitat. Check your answers using a field guide. Figure 1 (Diagrams are drawn in approximate, not exact, scale.) 132 Biology Laboratory Manual A/Chapter 15

5 Name Class Date Data Table 2 Bird Osprey Great horned owl Woodpecker Purple martin Great blue heron Common snipe Mallard duck Pelican Cardinal Hummingbird Ostrich Habitat Shorelines coniferous woods near open fields forests; parks; suburban areas fields near streams/rivers marshes; shores of lakes, ponds, and rivers bogs; marshes; shorelines creeks; rivers; ponds; lakes shorelines; estuaries wooded and suburban areas wherever appropriate plants are found, including suburban areas savanna; grassy plain Analysis and Conclusions 1. Comparing and Contrasting Each pair of birds mentioned below shares some characteristics. Yet they each have their own niche; they do not compete directly for the same resources. For each pair, describe how the birds are similar and how they are different. How might their differences enable them to occupy different niches? a. osprey and great horned owl b. woodpecker and purple martin c. great blue heron and common snipe Biology Laboratory Manual A/Chapter

6 2. Inferring Birds have hollow bones. Explain how this is adaptive. 3. Observing The hummingbird s beak is adapted to getting its food. Describe another adaptation of the hummingbird that enables it to get the food it needs. 4. Inferring Birds such as Darwin s finches are adapted to occupy highly specific niches. Would this adaptation make it easy or difficult for such birds to adapt to environmental change? Explain your answer. 5. Formulating Hypotheses Why might a particular bird be found in more than one habitat? 6. Inferring Birds are well-adapted to their habitats, yet some birds are considered members of endangered species. Infer why certain birds are endangered. Going Further Based on the results of this investigation, develop a hypothesis about the physical characteristics and habitat requirements of birds that live in hot, dry climates such as the desert. When developing a hypothesis, consider sources of food, water, shelter, nesting materials, and other factors. To test your hypothesis, with your teacher s permission, use various resources to learn about the physical characteristics and the habitat of one or more desert-dwelling birds. 136 Biology Laboratory Manual A/Chapter 15

Observing #1 1. Record a qualitative observation of the scene in the illustration. 2. Record a quantitative observation of the scene in the illustration. 3. Observation or inference? The house collapsed.

Biology Types of Evolution: Punctuated Equilibrium vs Gradualism Use the information below AND YOUR NOTES to answer the questions that follow. READ the information before attempting to do the work. You

Teacher s Packet Grades 3-4 Abstract Birds play an important role in the environment, as do all organisms. They help pollinate flowers, spread seeds in their droppings, and eat pest insects. They are also

Lesson 3 Great Horned Owl Great Horned Owls Hoo, hoo-oo, hoo, hoo! A great horned owl hoots in the night. Maybe it is hunting for a rabbit to eat. The great horned owl is one of the largest owls of North

Open-Ended Inquiry Skills Lab Additional Lab 8 Ecosystems and Speciation Problem How does a founding population adapt to new environmental conditions? Introduction When the hurricane s winds died down,

QU! hich is the smallest bird? hich one is the largest? hy do birds migrate? hat are vertebrates? hat do birds use their beaks for? hy do birds have light skeletons? hat is so special about their bones?

Unit 7: Adaptation STUDY GUIDE Name: SCORE: 1. Which is an adaptation that makes it possible for the animal to survive in a cold climate? A. tail on a lizard B. scales on a fish C. stripes on a tiger D.

FOCUS Book Darwin s Imagine that a new finch species has developed on one of the Galapagos Islands. It s up to you to determine what it looks like, how it behaves, and what it eats. Sketch the new finch,

Vertebrates Vertebrates are animals that have a backbone and an endoskeleton. The backbone replaces the notochord and contains bones called vertebrae. An endoskeleton is an internal skeleton that protects

Animals of Maryland By Mrs. Clubbs Kindergarten Class March 2013 Our class made an informational book about animals that live in Maryland. In science, we studied mealworms and learned about how the external

DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS: UNCLEAN By George Lujack Most Jewish rabbinical authorities have determined that ducks, geese, and swans are clean kosher birds. This article will challenge that determination,

LESSON 2: Outfoxed? Red and Gray Fox Niches and Adaptations GRADES: 6-8 OBJECTIVE: The goal of wildlife ecologists is to study how wild animals interact with their environment. One of the most common questions

Wood Turtle Brook Trout Shelter: Lives near the river in wet areas, winters underground in river bottoms or river banks, builds nests for eggs in sandy or gravelly open areas near water Food: Eats plants

Evolution as Fact Evolution is a fact. Organisms descend from others with modification. Phylogeny, the lineage of ancestors and descendants, is the scientific term to Darwin's phrase "descent with modification."

arwin's Fancy with Finches Lexile 940L 1 Whales are mammals that live in water. They can hold their breath under the water for a long time, yet still need to go up to the surface to breathe. This is evidence

TwoSetstoBuildDifference Two Sets to Build Difference Edward I. Maxwell You are most basically a blend of your biological parents. Your genetic material is a combinationoftheirgeneticmaterial.ahumantypicallyhas46chromosomesthatcontainhis

Identification of Waterfowl at The Shores of Long Bayou Ernie Franke eafranke@tampabay.rr.com April 2015 Easy Identification of the Waterfowl Many Birds Look Alike: Great Blue Heron and Tri-Colored (Louisiana)

Name Class Date ( CHAPTR 14 volution: How Change Occurs VOCABULARY RVW- Cross-a-Clue Write the answers to the numbered clue$ on the l~nesprovided,these answers will give you the words to fill in on the

EVOLUTION IN ACTION: GRAPHING AND STATISTICS INTRODUCTION Relatively few researchers have been able to witness evolutionary change in their lifetimes; among them are Peter and Rosemary Grant. The short

Darwin s Finches Lab Work individually or in groups of -3 at a computer Introduction The finches on Darwin and Wallace Islands feed on seeds produced by plants growing on these islands. There are three

MODULE 1: LEARNING ABOUT BIRDS Bird Species Fact Sheets The following fact sheets cover 4 different birds, Blue tit, Chaffinch, Sand martin and House martin. These 4 species are featured because they can

Lab 7 Name: Evolution Lab OBJECTIVES: Help you develop an understanding of important factors that affect evolution of a species. Demonstrate important biological and environmental selection factors that

Birds Birds are vertebrates (animals with backbones) with wings and feathers. Most birds can fly, using powerful muscles to flap their wings. But a few bird speces do not have strong enough wings to fly,

The Origin of Species: Lizards in an Evolutionary Tree Cara Larracas, Stacy Lopez, Takara Yaegashi Period 4 Background Information Throughout the Caribbean Islands there is a species of anole lizards that

Evolution in Action: Graphing and Statistics OVERVIEW This activity serves as a supplement to the film The Origin of Species: The Beak of the Finch and provides students with the opportunity to develop

Darwin's Theory 'I Key Concepts What important observations did Darwin make on his voyage? What hypothesis did Darwin make to explain the differences between similar species? How does natural selection

Name: Date: 1. Lamar's strong legs can climb rocks, swim, and ride a bike. Which best describes how our body helps us adapt to different activities? A. Lamar wears a jacket while riding his bike. B. Our

Arthropods, from last time Crustacea are the dominant marine arthropods Crustacea are the dominant marine arthropods any terrestrial crustaceans? Should we call them shellfish? sowbugs 2 3 Crustacea Morphology

Beaks as Tools: Selective Advantage in Changing Environments OVERVIEW Peter and Rosemary Grant s pioneering work on the Galápagos finches has given us a unique insight into how species evolve over generations.

Bird of the Year 2013 White-winged Flufftail Lesson 3 Animals found in wetlands The Bird of the Year 2013 project is proudly sponsored by Eskom Lesson 3 Animals found in wetlands Background reading Wetlands

Creation Learn what God made on day 4. Day 4 Then God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days,

National Geographic Explorer Lesson 1 Raising Raptors Different kinds of raptors Raptors are birds of prey More than 500 species of raptors around the world Eagles, hawks, falcons, snowy owls and kestrels

Adaptations A Science A Z Life Series Word Count: 1,670 Adaptations Written by Ron Fridell Visit www.sciencea-z.com www.sciencea-z.com Adaptations KEY ELEMENTS USED IN THIS BOOK The Big Idea: Plant and

Animal Study: Adelaide Zoo Name: Animal: 16 1 Is this animal a social animal? Give reasons for your answer. Reflect on what you have learned about the animal you studied. If you were designing an enclosure

Top Score Writing Grade 4 Lesson 23 Writing: Lesson 23 Today the students will practice planning for informative/explanatory prompts in response to text they read. The following passages will be used in

Activity 4 Building Bird Nests Created By Point Reyes Bird Observatory Education Program Building Bird Nests Activity 4 Objective: To teach students about songbird nests, the different types, placement

Section 16 3 1 FOCUS Objectives 16.3.1 Identify the condition necessary for a new species to evolve. 16.3.2 Describe the process of speciation in the alápagos finches. Vocabulary Preview Introduce students

Animal Biodiversity Teacher Resources - High School (Cycle 1) Biology Redpath Museum Ecology What defines a habitat? 1. Geographic Location The location of a habitat is determined by its latitude and its

TURTLE IDENTIFICATION TOPIC What are some unique characteristics of the various Ontario turtle species? BACKGROUND INFORMATION For detailed information regarding Ontario turtles, see Turtles of Ontario

Written and illustrated by Ms. Pyle s kindergartners Stony Point Elementary School November 2013 We dedicate this book to our teacher, Ms. Pyle, Mr. Rush, and all the animals and people who share the world

Mammal Adaptations Mammals are a group of animals that fit together because they all 1)have fur or hair 2) bear live young 3) feed their young with milk from specialized mammary glands. We are going to

Adaptations A Science A Z Life Series Word Count: 1,612 Adaptations Written by Ron Fridell Visit www.sciencea-z.com www.sciencea-z.com Adaptations Key elements Used in This Book The Big Idea: Plants and

Evolution of Tetrapods Amphibian-like creatures: The earliest tracks of a four-legged animal were found in Poland in 2010; they are Middle Devonian in age. Amphibians arose from sarcopterygians sometime

Field Trip: Harvard Museum of Natural History (HMNH) Note: There is no pre-lab for this lab. Objectives To observe the diversity of animals. To compare and contrast the various adaptations, body plans,

6 Birds and Mammals Section 6 Birds and Mammals Reading Preview Key Concepts What are the main characteristics of birds? How are birds adapted to their environments? What characteristics do all mammals

BEAKS AS TOOLS: SELECTIVE ADVANTAGE IN CHANGING ENVIRONMENTS INTRODUCTION Peter and Rosemary Grant s pioneering work on the Galápagos Island finches has given us a unique insight into how species evolve

A Reading A Z Shared Reading Book Word Count: 150 Home Connection: L-blends Your reader is learning to recognize words that begin with the L-blends cl and fl, as in the words claw and flat. As you read

The Leisure Isle Spotted Eagle Owls The world bird species list is in the order of 10,000. The total species for South Africa is just over 700, this number comprises of residents and migrants. Probably

Section 8: Physical Systems Where Animals and Plants Are Found About Animals and Plants What I Need to Know Vocabulary ecosystem food chain food web marine prairie Many animals live on Earth. Many plants

The Origin of Species: The Beak of the Finch OVERVIEW The Beak of the Finch is one of three films in HHMI s Origin of Species collection. Naturalists from Charles Darwin to E. O. Wilson have marveled at

Marine Reptiles, Birds and Mammals Vertebrates! Invaded the land and are descendants from the bony fish and were able to withstand the conditions on the land.! They evolved two sets of limbs (even snakes)

Objectives Introduction Period Name Other members of lab team How Do Species Adapt to Different Environments? Organisms have traits that help them to survive in different habitats. Fish can live in water

Puddle Ducks Order Anseriformes Family Anatinae Subfamily Anatini Puddle ducks or dabbling ducks include our most common and recognizable ducks. While the diving ducks frequent large deep bodies of water,

Read the article Treasured Turtles before answering Numbers 1 through 5. UNIT 3 WEEK 5 Treasured Turtles Have you ever seen a sea turtle? Unlike their much smaller cousins on land, these turtles can weigh

Teacher s Guide All About Baby Animals series Introduction This teacher s guide helps educate young children about baby animals. Animals live in many different habitats. Some live in grasslands, rainforests,

Rex Tyrannosaurus The king of the dinosaurs Anna Obiols & Subi Anna Obiols & Subi Rex Tyrannosaurus The king of the dinosaurs 2-3 I have a friend. He is so ferocious that he has scared more than one. 4-5

Field Guide: Teacher Notes Bob Winters Classification Objectives After completing this activity, students will be able to: Investigate how living things are classified. Group, or classify organisms according

7.11/.12: daptation of Species Name: ate: arwin s Fancy with Finches Lexile 1190L 1 2 Whales are mammals that live in water and can hold their breath underwater for a long time, yet need to breathe air

Rainforest Character Card Introduce Me Activity Hello! I am a poisonous viper. Best stay well away from me! Hello! I'm an animal that creeps everywhere very slowly. I come from the African rainforest...